“Iron Duke in the Land”, is considered the first recorded calypso in English (recorded in 1914). Earlier calypsos were sung in patois. “Iron Duke in the Land” is a calypso by Henry Julian (a.k.a. Julian Whiterose) in which he boasts about roles he portrayed in the White Rose Social Union (his masquerade band) in the 1890s when he was instrumental in developing fancy masquerade bands.

During that period the musical style was called Cariso. The term “calypso” evolved later at the turn of the nineteenth century. This title “Iron Duke in the Land,” is the only title of Whiterose’s recordings known to exist. Julian also performed under the names J. White Rose, Henry Julian, and J. Resigna.
credit: TUCO

"The Real Calypso" is the story of Calypso that was birthed on the island of Trinidad during the formative years of the colony. This page should help with some of the facts that you should know about Trinidad and Tobago's Calypso music!

We continue to read about how the art form of calypso developed over the years. Trinidad and Tobago is a very unique society and many have tried to take away from our accomplishments. However, the truth can be found in many recorded historical data which can and will be disputed but never refuted.

"In many islands of the Caribbean, there are calypso-like songs -- e. g., the shanto of British Guiana, the plena of Puerto Rico, and the mento of Jamaica -- but the calypso of Trinidad and Tobago, called cariso by Atilla (Raymond Quevedo), stands apart on its own because of characteristics peculiar to itself. Among these traits are: the "halftone"
(strong syncopation) in its rhythmic system, the topicality, its tendency to satirize upon every conceivable subject, its allusion and open picong, and itsdouble entendre."Link:Folkways Records/media.smithsomianfolkways.org.

If you want to know the real story then go to the link below to learn about "The Real Calypso". The link takes you to to the Smithsonialfolkways.org webpage for a very informative and revealing read. The story begins in Trinidad and that is something that many individuals are attempting to distort with stories about Calypso 'erupting all over the Caribbean region during the days of slavery. Obviously they have confused folk songs with the style that became known as Calypso!

I have posted some of the dates of interest for Trinidad's Calypso music. Just take a look at the dates below (Did you know the following) with special reference to the facts presented about the first instrumental and first vocal recordings of calypso. These are important dates and, I am certain, you will appreciate the fact that Trinidad is really "the well" from which calypso sprung and blossomed to what it is today.

This blog has presented a list of calypso monarch winners and additionally, we add another important lists - Leggos and Road March winners. In continuing with the presentation of historical data we list the winners of the famous 'Road March Competition' as it relates to Trinidad and Tobago for what was known as 'Leggos' and now called 'Road March'.

Did you know the following:

Calypsos were first sung in French Creole then a mix of Patois and English

The Rhythm of Calypso (beat) is done in 2/4, 4/4 time (see "Meter" at this link for an explanation of Rhythm (beats in the music)

First ever Calypso instrumental recording was done in 1912 by Lovey's orchestra.

First ever vocal Calypso recording was made in 1914 when the "Duke of Iron" teamed up with Jules Sims.

First ever Calypso tent opened in Port-of-Spain in 1921 was the "Railway Douglas Tent".

First ever female to sing in a calypso tent was "Lady Trinidad" in 1935.

First ever female Calypsonian to cut a record was "Lady Trinidad" in 1937.

Some of the facts above were sourced from Trinicenter.com at this LINK

Calypso Monarch Competition Winners

If you always wanted to have a list of the Calypso Monarchs of Trinidad and Tobago and had difficulty locating the information then help is here! If anyone has information to add to list please leave a comment or send an email to ananda2456@gmail.com. The record shows that both Sparrow and Chalkdust won the crown eight (8) times followed by Stalin with 5 victories, Duke and Cro Cro with 4, Lord Melody with 3 victories, Atilla the Hun, Striker, Spoiler, Singing Sandra, Sugar Aloes and Luta with 2 wins each. Then we have the rest with one victory each.

Sparrow: 1956, 1960, 1962, 1963, 1972, 1973, 1974 and 1992

Chalkdust: 1976, 1977, 1981, 1989, 1993, 2004, 2005and 2009

Please check the list for the information that you desire - it is an interesting list but please note that the first year listed is 1939. If anyone has information about the start of this competition I would be happy to post it on this blog. Apparently 1939 is the first year of the Calypso Monarch Competition and the Growling Tiger (Neville Marcano) won the competition with a song entitled "The Labour Situation in Trinidad And Tobago." (Wikipedia).

1939 - Growling Tiger (The Labour Situation in Trinidad And Tobago)

1940 - Roaring Lion (Rise And Fall Of The British Empire)

1941 - Mighty Destroyer (Adolf Hitler)

1942 - No Carnival No Carnival

1943 - No Carnival No Carnival

1944 - No Carnival No Carnival

1945 - No Carnival No Carnival

1946 - Attila The Hun (Mail Report)

1947 - Attila The Hun (Million Dollar Jail)

1948 - Mighty Spoiler (Royal Wedding)

1949 - Lord Melody (Glory Mama Glory)

1950 - No Competition

1951 - Lord Melody (Jonah and The Bake)

1952 - No Competition

1953 - Spoiler (Bed Bug)

1954 - Melody (Second Spring)

1955 - Spoiler (Pick Sense Out of Nonsense)

1956 - Sparrow (Jean and Dinah)

1957 - Pretender (Que Sera Sera)

1958 - Striker (Don't Blame the PNM/Cant Find A Job To Suit Me)

1959 - Striker (Ban the Hoola Hoop/Comparison)

1960 - Sparrow (Ten to One is Murder/Mae Mae)

1961 - Dougla (Lazy Man/Split Me in Two)

1962 - Sparrow (Sparrow Come Back Home/Federation)

1963 - Sparrow (Dan is the Man/Kennedy)

1964 - Bomber (Joan and James/Bomber's Dream)

1965 - Sniper (Portrait of Trinidad/More Production)

1966 - Terror (Pan Jamboree/Last Year's Happiness)

1967 - Cypher (Last Elections/If the Priest Could Play)

1968 - Duke (What is Calypso/Social Bacchanal)

1969 - Duke (Black is Beautiful/One Foot Visina)

1970 - Duke (Brotherhood of Man/See Through)

1971 - Duke (Mathematical Formula/Melvine & Yvonne)

1972 - Sparrow (Drunk and Disorderly/Rope)

1973 - Sparrow (School Days/Same Time, Same Place)

1974 - Sparrow (We Pass That Stage/Miss Mary)

1975 - Kitchener (Tribute to Spree Simon/Fever)

1976 - Chalkdust (Three Blind Mice/Ah Put on Meh Guns Again)

1977 - Chalkdust (Juba Dubai/Shango Vision)

1978 - Calypso Rose (Her Majesty/I Thank Thee)

1979 - Black Stalin (Caribbean Unity/Play One)

1980 - Relator (Food Prices/Take a Rest)

1981 - Chalkdust (Ah Can't Make/Things That Worry Me)

1982 - Scrunter (Lick-e-Thing/The Will)

1983 - Crusoe (Don't Cry Now/South Africa)

1984 - Penguin (We Living in Jail/Soft Man)

1985 - Black Stalin (Isms Schisms/Wait Dorothy)

1986 - David Rudder (The Hammer/Bahia Girl)

1987 - Black Stalin (Mr. Pan Maker/Burn Dem)

1988 - Cro Cro (Three Bo Rats/Corruption in Common Entrance)

1989 - Chalkdust (Chauffeur Wanted/Carnival is The Answer)

1990 - Cro Cro (Political Dictionary/Party)

1991 - Black Stalin (Bright Side/Ah Feeling to Party)

1992 - Sparrow (Both of Them/Survival or Man will survive) (second song correction by Jeron Josep)

The following post is a reprint from the Blog Santiwah. Some of the dates in the post date to an earlier period in the history of the Road March competition. The winning songs played by the bands from 1932 up until 1961 were called "Leggos" (Break Away). From 1962 the competition became 'officially entrenched' in the Carnival scene and was given the name "Road March"(current name). The real names of the Calypsonians here were sourced from TUCO and added to this listing to ensure 'full disclosure' with the listing. Thanks to TUCO and their research for listing the official names of the singers. The names were added here as a public service!

From 1932 to 1961 there was no official Road March Competition! The official competition was sanctioned in 1962! The video at the end of this listing was sourced from YouTube and is presented for your listening pleasure by "IsDePanInMe". You can now listen to a selection of these winning calypsos!